Mechanical interlock apparatus



Sept. 19, 1944. c. s. KELLEY MECHANICAL INTERLOCK APPARATUS Fil ed Ju ly so, 1942 fig. 3'

fig. 2

v INVENATOAR Cecil a [@219 BY 9 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .,2,358,643 f f MECHANICAL INTERLOCK APPARATUS Cecil S. Kelley, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmer-ding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 1 1 Application July so, 1942, Serial No. 452,949 Claims. (Cl. 74*483) This invention relates to mechanical interlock apparatus and more particularly to means for preventing undesired operation of a control member.

In certain sea craft a plurality of Diesel engines, operative either singly or in multiple, are employed for driving a propeller. These engines are of the reversible type for either turning the propeller in one direction for moving the ship forwardly or in the reverse direction for moving the ship in an astern direction. A clutch is used to connect and disconnect each engine to and from the propeller and each clutch is controlled by an individual manually operable controller. When all of the engines are operating to turn, the propeller in the same direction, they may all be connected to drive the propeller, if it is desired. At times, however, one or more of the engines operating to turn the propeller in one direction will be connected to the propeller, while the other engine or engines will be operating in the reverse direction, and, as will be apparent, it would be undesirable under such a condition to connect the latter to the propeller. since it might result in damage to the engines or other parts of the transmission system between the engines and propeller.

short slots 8 and 9 open to thefloppositesides oi slot 4 adjacent its opposite ends. v

An operating or contr'ol lever lli' extend from within the casing! through slot 3 to. the exterior of the casing, while a similar lever .ll, extends from within the casing through slot 4 to the egg terior of the casing. Each of these levers may control any desired device orj mechanism such as thestarting of an internal'combustion aswell' as the operatio of a clutch tor connecting and disconnectingsaid engine to and from a propeller of a ship, as above describedg I To this end thelever l0 may have a neutral position in which it is shown in Fig. )1 for stop-.

ping the respective engine and for actuating the clutch 'to disconnect the engine from the propeller. The lever maybe moveddownwardlm as viewed in Fig. 1, from neutral position fto the lower end of slot- 3 for causing the engine tobe The principal object of the invention is therefore the provision of a simple mechanical interlock arrangement between a plurality of individual manual controllers for preventing undesired operation of the controllers and therebyfof devices controlled by the controllers in a system of the general type above described.

'Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a manual controller embodyine. the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken onthe lines 2-2 and 3-3, respectively, in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the controller shown in Fig. 1 with certain parts broken away to show more clearly certain interior construction.

As shown in the drawing, the controller comprises a casing l'having an end wall 2 provided with two, like, spaced and parallel arranged main slots 3'and 4 disposed with half their length at either side of a dot and dash line 5 (Fig. 1). The

slot 3 adjacent one of its ends is open to a rela-' tively short slot 6 extending from one side of slot 3 at right angles. A like relatively short and parallel slot 1 is open to the opposite side of slot 3 adjacent its opposite end. Corresponding started in one direction and; it i may be then moved back slightly and'into slot 6"for actuating the clutch to connect said engine tofthe ships propeller for causing movement of the ship in the, direction determinedby the engine. Iffdesired, the lever I0 may be movedupwardly to the, up-i p'er end of slot 3 'for causing'the engine tobe started in the reverse direction from that provid ed at the lowerend of slot 3., The lever l0 may slightly in slot '3 and'into. slot 1 for actuating the clutch to connect the en-,f.

. then be moved back gineto the propeller for causing movement of the ship in the direction determined ,by the engine, which is the reverse of thedirection of movement .obtainedwith lever ID in slot 6. It mayQbe as-j sumed that with lever [0. in slot 6 the ship will move forwardly but in slot 1 it will move in an astern direction.

The lever H has a neutral position in slot 4 to cause stopping of its engine and to actuate itsclutch to disconnect said engine from the propeller. The lever ll may .be moved to the lower.-

end of slot 4 to start itsengine and then into slot 8 to actuate the clutch to connect said engine .to the propeller to move the ship in the same di- 'rection, or ahead, as obtained by lever in in slot 6. On the other hand, the lever H maybe moved I to the top of slot 4, as viewed in Fig.1, to cause" starting of its engine in the-reverse direction and: then into slot 9 to actuate the clutch to connect: "said engine to the ship propeller to cause the ship to move in an astern direction.

Ifboth levers l0 and ll areat the same time: disposed in slots 6 and 8 respectively, both en .gines will be connected'tothe propeller to move -the ship ahead, or if said levers are both disposed at the same time in slots 1 and 9 respectively, the ship will move in an astern direction under the power of both engines.

However, if one of the levers or II should be at one side of its neutral position and operated to connect its engine to the propeller of the ship, it will be apparent that the other lever, if at the opposite side of its neutral position should not at the same time be operated to connect its engine to the propeller, since the two engines would be operating to turn the propeller in opposite directions and this might result in severe damage to 1 the engine or engines or other parts .of the apparatus connecting the engines to the propeller.

More specifically, if lever I0 is in slot 6, the

I lever II should not be capable of movement into slot 9, or vice versa. 0n the other hand, if lever I0 is in slot 1, lever l I should not .be capable of movement into slot 8, or vice 'versa. The invention, which will now be described, comprises an arrangement for preventing such unfrom the arcuate casing-surface 15, is pivotally mounted onflpins l8 provided in the casing at opposite sidesof the arcuate surface l5. The interlock member 1 I6 is thus hinged for ,movement over ,orrelative to the ancuate surface I5 in the direction of the length of'said surface.

Theinterlo'ck member I6 is provided with two slotsf 3c and 4a of greater length than and located in alignment with slots '3 and 4, respeotively. A relatively short slot 6a extends from one side of the slot Bdadjaoent one of its ends for alignment on registry with slot 6 in the casme, while an oppositely'arranged slot Ia opens to the opposite sideof slot 3a adjacent its oppo site end for alignment'with slot 1. The distance between slots 6d .and la is less than that between slots "5 and l byan amount equal substantially to the width of one of the slots so that when slots 6 anad 6a are in registry slots 1 and lai will be out of registry, and vice versa.

The slot 4a is open adjacent its. opposite ends,

to relatively short slots 80 and 9a arranged for registry one at a timewith slots B and 9 respectively, like the slots to and Ta with respect to slotsfi and 1, respectively.

Withthis arrangement, if the lever I0 is moved into slot 6, the slot to must be aligned with slot 6 to provide for such movement and the interlock member lfiwilltherefore be positioned to permit movement of lever I l into slot 8 butwill prevent movement of lever l l into slot 9. In case the lever I0 is moved into slot 1, the interlock member l 6 will be "positioned to permit movement of lever H into slot 9 but will prevent -its movement into slot 8. On the other hand, if lever H is in slot'8, the lever l0 may be-moved into slot 6 but not into slot 'I, while 'if lever ll is inslot 9, the lever I0 maybe moved 7 into slot 1 but not into slot 6. In other words, the interlock member l6 prevents the operation of levers l0 and H to connect both engines to the propeller of the ship when the engines are operating to turnthe propeller in opposite dirent ions, but permits the operation of said levers to connect both engines to the propeller when the engines are operating to turn the propeller in the same direction.

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the junction between the side wall of slot 3'a and the side wall of slot la adjacent the upper end of slot 3a is formed at a radius 20 which overlies slot 1 when out of alignment with slot la. By this construction a slight wedge like lead opening 2| is provided through the interlock member l6 into slot 1 to readily receive the lever 10 and thus facilitate locating the slot 1 by said lever. With the lever Ill in the lead opening 2| usual side pressure against the lever for moving same into slot 1 will then automatically shift the interlock member L6 to the position in which slot la registers with slot I. The lever l0 may therefore be moved to the top of slot 30. to provide for) starting of the engine and then be drawn back along the left-hand side of slot 3 to opening 2| into which it will automatically move under side thrust, following which the interlock member l6 will automatically shift as the lever is moved into slot 1. The slot 6a is connected to slot 3a by a similar radius 20, while like radii are provided between the. slot 4a and slots 8a and 9a for the same purpose.

The slots 3a and 4a are longer than slots 3 and 4 respectively by an amount suffioient to permit either .of the levers [0 or H to be moved to their engine starting position at either side ofv neutral position when the other lever is in clutch engaging position atthe opposite side of neutral position. For instance, with lever III in slots 6, 6a the upper end of slot 4a is aligned with the upper end' of slot 4 to permit lever II to be moved to the upper end of slot 4 for controlling the starting of the respective engine. For the same reason, when lever I0 is inslots 'L'la the lower end of slot 4 is aligned with that of slot 4a, and the same relation is provided between slot 3a and slot 3 in the two clutch engaging. positions of lever II. By this arrangement when one engine is connected to the propeller for moving the ship in one direction the other engine may, if desired, be started for causing movement of the ship in the reverse direction and thereby be instantly advailable for connection withthe propeller when desired.

Summary It will now be seen that I have provided a relatively simple interlock arrangement between two operating members which provides for de-' siredoperation of both of said members but prevents undesired o peration thereof. lock arrangement in no way interferes with usual intended operation of the operating members and functions automatically upon such intended operation to accomplish the desired end.

Having :now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: V

1. In combination, a casing having two slots slotsand being movable therefrom in opposite di- The interrections into-the respective, angularly arranged slots, and an interlock member hinged. to said casing and having slots aligned with the first distance diiferent' than the corresponding slots in said casin to prevent movement-of either of said levers into its respective angularly arranged casing slot with the other lever in its angularly arranged casing slot.

2. In combination, a casing having two slots extending in opposite directions and two other slots extending at an 'anglethereto one of the angularly arranged slots being open to one of the first named slotsadjacent its outer end and the other angular-1y arranged slot being open to the other first named slot adjacent its outer or opposite end, two independent movable control levers in said leasing each extending through one of the first two named slotsysaid levers having positions adjacent each other in the first named slots and being movable therefrom in opposite directions into the respective angularly arranged slots, and an interlock member hinged to said casing and having slots aligned with the first named casing slots 'through whi ch said levers extend and having other slots arranged ion registry with the angularly arranged casing slots to provide for'movement of said levers into the last named casing slots, the angularly arranged slots in'said interlock member being spaced apart a distance different than the corresponding slots in said casing to prevent movement of either of said levers into its respective angularly arranged oasing slot with the other lever in its angularly arranged casing slot, the first named slots in said interlock member providing for movement of either of said levers to the outer end of the respective first named casing slot, when the other lever is disposed in its respective angular casing slot. 7

3. In combination, a casing having two slots extending in opposite directions and two other slots extending at an angle thereto, one of the angularly arranged slots being open to one ofthe first named slots adjacent its outer end and the other angularly arranged slot being open to the other first named slot adjacent its outer slots to provide for movement of said levers into the last named lcasing slots, the angularly arranged slots in said interlock member being spaced apart a distance difierent than the corresponding slots in said casing to prevent movement of either of said levers into its respective angularly arranged casing slot with the other lever in its angularly arranged casing slot, the

junction between each of the first named slots 1 responding angular slot in the casing, when the correspondingangular; slots in said casing and interlock member are out of registry, for receiv-' ingthe respective lever and for moving the interlock member relative to the casing by side thrust from thelever to bring the respective angular slots'in said'casing and interlock member into registry. q a

'4. In combination, a casing, two independent movable control members in said casing, both of said [control members having a neutral position in saidcasing and being movable inone di& rection from neutral position to efiect certain like operations; and in the opposite direction from neutral position to efifect different operations, and an interlock, member secured to and.

, capable of movement relative to said casing and adapted to be connected to and disconnected from said control members andso constructed as to provide for independent. operation of both to elT-ect said like operations at the same time but to prevent operation of either control member to effect one of said operations while the other control 'member is effecting the other operation, '5, In combination, a casing, two independent movable control members in said casing, each of said control members having a neutral position,

one control position at one side of neutral posi-Q tion and another control position at the opposite a side of' neutral position, an interlock member secured to and capable of movement relative to said casing and adapted to be connected to. and disconnected from said control members,

said interlock member providing io-r both of said control members occupying at the same time either their neutral positions or their operating.

positions either at one side or atthe opposite side of their neutral positions and being o perative to prevent movement of either of said control members to its operating position at one side of neutral position with the other control member in its operating position at the other side of neutral position. 4

6. In combination, a casing, two independent movable control members in said casing, each of said control members having a neutral position, one control position at one side of neutral position and another control position at the opposite side of neutral position, an interlock member secured to and capable of movement relative to said casing, said interlock member having slots providing for either one or both of said control members being movable to and occupying at the same time their operating positions either at one side or at the opposite side of their neutral positions and being conditionable upon movement of either of said control members to either of its operating positions to hold the other control member against movement to its operating position at the opposite side of its neutral position.

7. In combination, casing means having two parallel slots arranged side by side and having a relatively short slot arranged at an angle to means providing for movement at will of both.

of said levers between the opposite ends of the first named slots and being operable by either of said levers upon movement into one of its respective short slots to provide for the other lever being movable into the short slot at the same 'or adjacent end of the first named slot, said interlock means being operable by either of' said levers upon movement thereof into the short slot adjacent one end of the respective first named slot to close the opening to ,the short slot at the opposite end of the other first named slot.

8. In combination, casing means having two parallel slots arranged side by side'and having a relatively short 'slot arranged at an angle to and opening to each, of said parallel slots adjacent each of its opposite ends, twoindependent control levers in said casing, one of said levers extending through each of the first named slots and being movable therein and into either of the said connected short slots, and an interlock member carried by and movable relative to said casing means, said interlock member having main slots aligned with the first named casing slots through which said levers extend and of such length as to provide for movement at will of said levers to either of the opposite ends of the first named casing slots, said interlock member having short slots open to the main slots for registry with the short slots in said casing v to provide for movement of said levers into said short casing slots when in registry, said interlock member preventing movement of said levers into the short casing slots when out of registry with the respective short slots in said interlock member, said short slots in said interlock member being spaced apart a distance different than the spacing of the short slots. in said casing having for each of said arcuate slots two short slots arranged at right angles to said arcuate slots and open thereto one adjacent each of its opposite ends, two levers in said casing one projecting through each of said arcuate slots, each of said levers being capable of movement between the opposite ends of the respective arcuate slot and into either of the respective short slots, an interlock member having a surface disposed in concentric relation to said arcuate face and hingedly connected to said casing for movement relative to said face, said interlock member having two spaced arcuate slots registering with the arcuate casing slots and two short slots arranged at right angles to and open to each of the arcuate slots for registry with the short casing slots, the short slots in said interlock member being spaced apart a different distance than that between the short slots in said casing by an amount equal substantially to the widthof one of the short slots, the arcuate slots in said interlock member being of such length as to provide for movement of either of said levers to the ends of the arcuate casing slots when the other lever is in the adjacent short casing slot and thereby in the respective short slot in said interlock means. i a

10. In combination, a casing, two independent movable control members in said casing, each of means by an amount substantially equal to the width of one of said slots..

9. In combination, a casing having an arcuate said control members having three different positions, and interlock means adapted to be connected to and disconnected from said control members and operable by either one of said mem bers upon movement into one of its positions to provide for movement of the other control member to two of its positions but to prevent movement thereof to its third position.

CECIL S. KELLEY. 

